Make a stenciled holiday sign inspired by an iconic quote from the movie, Elf!
Elf is my favorite Christmas movie, and I may have already watched it multiple times before December even got here... To make the holiday season a little brighter, I decided to make a sign with the "Nice List" quote from the movie using a custom stencil I made using my Ikonart kit!! This was such a fun and simple project to make, and I absolutely love how it turned out. It's such a fun and festive piece of holiday decor, and I'm sharing the FREE design so that you can make a sign for your own home!!
New to making reusable stencils? Here's how to Get Started with Ikonart!
To make your own Nice List Elf Quote Sign, you will need these supplies:
- Nice List Elf Quote Design (for personal use only)
- Ikonart Custom Stencil Kit
- Scissors
- 8x10 Wood Panel
- Sandpaper
- Chalk Paint - white
- Acrylic Paint - green, red, yellow, silver
- Squeegee
- Paint Brush
- Detail Brush (optional)
*Save 15% on Ikonart supplies when you shop with code AFM15
To make a stencil, you need to start with a printed design. Download the Nice List Elf Quote Design (for personal use only) and print the design as dark as possible on either inkjet or laser Ikonart Printer Film.
The next step in the process is exposing the stencil film. Set up the exposure stand with UV LED Light by following the directions included in the kit. Ikonart Stencil Film is light sensitive, so be careful to keep it out of sunlight and bright lights before exposure. Cut a piece of the film the same size as the design print.
Lay the piece of film down on the base of the stand with the textured side facing up. Place the printed design on top of the stencil film, making sure it's right-side up - meaning that you should be able to read the words printed on the design.
Lastly, place the clear exposure sheet (found in the stencil film pack) on top and press it down well to seal the design tight against the stencil film. Turn the exposure light on and expose the film for 35 seconds.
The final step in the stencil-making process is to washout, or rinse the stencil. Clip the exposed stencil film to the Ikonart clipboard with the shiny side (carrier sheet) touching the clipboard. Use the kitchen sink sprayer to rinse the stencil film with warm water until the design shows through and becomes completely clear. The washout process shouldn't take more than 3 minutes.
Gently blot the excess water from the stencil, and hang or lay the stencil flat to dry for about 45 minutes. When the stencil is dry, you shouldn't see any water spots or discoloration. Once the stencil is completely dried, place the it back on the exposure stand and expose it again for at least 2 minutes without the clear cover sheet. This extra exposure time will increase the durability of the stencil so you can get as much use out of it as possible.
The best time to paint your wood panel is while you're waiting for the stencil to dry. Sand the wood, if necessary. Next, cover the panel in a coat or two of white chalk paint and let it dry completely. Use sandpaper over the panel again to make the surface as smooth as possible.
Once finished, gently wipe the sign with a damp cloth or paper towel to remove any dust.
I designed the stencil to be cut into pieces so make it easy to paint each section of the design in different colors. Cut the stencil pieces apart with scissors, making sure to leave space around each part of the design. If you don't leave extra space, you might get paint around the edge of the stencil when painting your project.
Use a permanent marker and write "back" on the carrier sheet (shiny side) on the back of the stencil. This will help you put the stencil pieces together the correct way after you are done using them.
Because acrylic paint has a thinner consistency, you can have trouble with bleeds on stencil projects. Chalk paint is thicker than regular acrylic paint, so it helps to create crisp lines when stenciling. To thicken your acrylic paints (any brand or type), I recommend mixing in a little bit of chalk paint powder.
Just add a little bit of powder to the paint and stir it together with a craft stick. Add a little more powder at a time, if necessary, until you get the consistency you want.
If you're not sure what to use on your project, Ikonart has a list of paint and ink selections to help you out!
Peel the carrier sheet away from the stencil and set it aside (don't throw it away). Carefully rub the stencil down and apply pressure to help it stick to the surface and to get rid of any air bubbles.
Use a squeegee, sponge, or even your fingertip to apply acrylic paint over the stencil, one section at a time.
If using a sponge or a fingertip, dab the sponge/finger in the paint, and then gently tap over the stencil. Don't rub or add too much pressure. If using the squeegee, add a little line of paint above the word, and gently pull the squeegee down over the letters until they are all evenly covered. Scrape away the excess and put it back onto the paint tray.
Chalk paint is thicker, but it does happen to dry quicker than regular acrylic paint. After covering the first word/section with paint, lift the stencil up to reveal that part and then gently lay the stencil back down (don't add pressure or anything). This simple step will help to prevent the paint from drying in the mesh and lifting up with your stencil.
If you lift it up and see any spots that you may have missed, carefully lay it back down and add a little more paint.
Washing Stencils:
For best results, wash stencils while the paint is still wet. To wash your stencil so that it can be used again and again, first get the clipboard wet so your stencil doesn't stick to it. Place the stencil on the clipboard with the textured side up, and lightly rub the stencil under cold running water to remove all the paint.
Do not rub or scrub the adhesive side of the stencil, and NEVER use anything other than water to wash the stencils. To prevent the stencil from breaking down, don't ever leave the stencils to soak.
Remove the stencil from the clipboard and lay it down with the adhesive side up. While the stencil is still wet, place the carrier sheet onto the stencil so that the word “BACK” is readable. Hang or lay the stencil flat to dry completely.
Once the paint is completely dry, place the next stencil onto the wood panel and press it down well. If the paint is even a little bit wet, you will risk pulling it up when you peel the stencil away.
Paint over this stencil with thickened green acrylic paint the same way as before, using a squeegee, sponge, or even your fingertip. Make sure to peel up the stencil after painting each section so that the paint doesn't dry in the mesh.
*Instead of covering the little stars in green paint, I decided to use silver here instead. If you want to do the same, just be careful not to get mix the paint in that small section between the star and the "N".
Next, place the border piece onto the top of the sign, and cover it with metallic silver acrylic paint. Reuse the stencil piece to paint the same design at the bottom of the sign.
Last, but not least, place the "everyone" and the hat feather stencil pieces onto the sign. Paint over each one with red acrylic paint. Peel the stencils away.
If you notice any missed spots or bleeds, grab a small detail paint brush and add a light coat of paint over the area(s).
Let the paint dry completely, and wash the stencils well following the instructions listed above.
It was a lot of fun using one stencil design to make a sign in different colors of paint. I absolutely LOVE how this Nice List Elf Quote Sign turned out!! This sign is such a festive piece of holiday decor, and I kind of want to make a bunch of them now for friends and family.
I'd love to hear what you think about this project, or if you want to know more about reusable stencils. If you've made your own stenciled projects, I would love to see your creations! Share them on Instagram, Facebook, or leave a comment/photo on the project pin on Pinterest! #AFMCrafts
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My favorite Christmas movie!
ReplyDeleteDo you have an svg of this pattern? I think it's much easier with vinyl than paint. Thanks for posting the idea, even if I do it differently I still was inspired by your idea.
ReplyDelete